In spite of disquiet from some sections of the fire safety community, the first evaluation of the effectiveness of the Fire Safety Order paints a worryingly rosy picture, says Ron Alalouff.

The long anticipated review of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order suggests that businesses and fire professionals are broadly satisfied with the legislation. It concludes that overall, the legislation is setting in well with who have roles and responsibilities under it. Contrast this with many of the views expressed at a recent fire industry seminar, where speaker after speaker drew attention to significant shortcomings in the way the Fire Safety Order was being interpreted and enforced. To the not-so-casual observer, there seems to be a disconnect between the view from Whitehall and the experiences of those dealing with the legislation on the ground.

The – almost glowing – government review also says that businesses, where they were able to give an opinion on it, said the Fire Safety Order is an improvement on the previous legislation. Hold on a minute, did they say "where they were able to give an opinion on it"? That sounds suspiciously like many of them had no knowledge of it to give an opinion in the first place. In fact, the report found that only around 60% of businesses are aware of the legislation. That in itself, surely, is an indictment on the way in which the legislation has been communicated and implemented.

I have in my hand a piece of paper
Not many people are seriously suggesting going back to the hotchpotch of laws and regulations which preceded the Fire Safety Order. Then, premises owners could discharge their responsibilities by waving around a piece of paper – in the form of a fire certificate – however many years old the inspection on which that certificate was issued may have been. But the increasing clamour from the fire safety industry and bewildered responsible persons must convince the government that it has far more work to do, to ensure the legislation is properly communicated, understood and acted upon. Otherwise, inconsistencies in enforcement will result in unfairness and resentment, while ignorance could result in more and worse fires.

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The Fire Safety Order evaluation